If you missed our Community Celebration held April 13th, you missed the ceremonial closing of our 2016 community drive, which officially ends with our fiscal year, June 30. More importantly, we didn't get to thank you along with many of our treasured volunteers, corporate investors, and area businesses that played a big role in helping us make a difference in the four counties we serve.

In years past United Way of Southeast Missouri (UWSEMO) and others in our network have focused on the amount of funds collected. While this is imperative to the work we do, we and many other nonprofits are choosing to communicate more about the impact we are able to make with those funds. Naturally, donors want to know just how their donations are helping, and we are excited to share the news!

Organizational goals

for fiscal year 2016-17 included expanding our impact in other areas outside of our Cape Girardeau headquarters. Our Community Investment Committee chose several ways to support this goal:

Increase funding to the Boys and Girls Club to launch an after-school program in Scott City, which opened in January

Invest in a new 4-H leadership program in Scott County that provides career prep to junior and senior high school students

Support a food pantry in Bollinger County that helps an average of 40 families a month.

We also created awareness of need and the organizations that help meet community need through United Days of Caring. This event (UDOC) kicked off our community drive with a weekend of projects in every county we serve. They included building Habitat homes, helping women's shelters, constructing Little Free Libraries, and collecting various supplies for families and students...read more.

Long-Term Recovery in Perryville

So far, United Way of Southeast Missouri has collected $76,000 for the people in Perryville impacted by the February tornado. Many people have asked how the funds are being distributed, and we are eager for our donors to know exactly how their dollars are being managed.

UWSEMO is one of many organizations represented on

a Long-Term Recovery Committee (LTRC). Other

members include The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, First Call for Help, 211, the

Perryville Community Foundation, Catholic Charities, and more.

(Photo credit to St. Louis Post-Dispatch.)

A social worker from the Perryville community is meeting with each of the 58 families impacted to identify their needs and ability to meet them. Many families were well insured and, once their immediate needs were met, they are able to rebuild without needing much in the way of financial assistance. For those families and individuals who need additional help, the case manager brings the unmet needs to the LTRC, where we discuss which organization can help with each unmet need. Some are able to provide donated items, such as clothing, housewares and furniture; others, like UWSEMO, are able to provide funds...Read More.

It's time to plan our involvement with the coming Community Drive and the impact we want to make in our community. All Women UNITED (formerly GRACES) members are invited to join us Dutch treat at My Daddy's Cheesecake on Friday, May 12, at 11:30. Please invite your interested friends who want to help strengthen our community!

FORE! Look out Southeast Missouri, it's time for the 30th Annual United Way Golf Tournament, sponsored by
BioKyowa!

Interested in playing in or sponsoring

the tournament? Call Kristin in our office

today at 573-334-9634.

United Way Awarded Members for Read to Excel

United Way of Southeast Missouri (UWSEMO) is pleased to announce it is the recipient of a two-member grant from the DeltaCorps Regional Authority, a division of AmeriCorps. The grant provides two members for a new program, Read to Excel (R2X), an expansion of United Way's valuable Read to Succeed program in the Cape Girardeau Public Schools...Read More.

Gold Investors

Silver Investors

Important Dates

5/12 - Women UNITED Planning Luncheon, My Daddy's Cheesecake 11:30

5/20 - P&G Who Do You Run For? 5K

6/03 - 30th Annual United Way Golf Tournament

Sponsored by BioKyowa

6/08 - Employee Campaign Coordinator Training

6/15 - Employee Campaign Coordinator Training

6/29 - Employee Campaign Coordinator Training

Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Community Drive Award Recipients!

Brandy McIntire, Fox23, KBSI

Ambassador of the Year

Jerry Josselyn, Mondi

ECC of the Year

Jane Myers, The Bank of Missouri

Volunteer of the Year

Procter & Gamble

Spirit of Partnership

The Bank of Missouri

Spirit of Community

The City of Cape

FUNdraiser Award

Liberty Utilities

Newcomer Award

FLOOD VICTIMS

NEED YOUR HELP!

If you can help remove sludge and muck from basements in Cape Girardeau and Cape County, please contact Kyle Schott immediately: 573-225-5866.

Thank you!

Volunteer Corner

2nd Annual Back to School Fair

Volunteers are needed to assist with the 2nd annual Back to School Fair taking place on Tuesday, July 18th at Tiger Field House. For more information on how you can get involved, contact Dusha Cecil at cecild@capetigers.com.

Community Caring Council

On Tuesday, May 16th and Wednesday, May 17th volunteers are needed to help set up the 11th Annual Community Garage Sale. For more information contact
Kay Azuma with the Community Caring Council.

Voices for Children/CASA

Come find out what Voices for Children/CASA is all about! Their upcoming volunteer informational meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 10th at Lynwood Baptist Church from 6-7 pm. Volunteers will investigate, facilitate, monitor and advocate the care of children in the system.

Boys & Girls Club of

Southeast Missouri

Help B&GC members with homework, arts and crafts, physical activities or other programs or create your own project or special event. Be on the lookout for more volunteer information coming soon as the Club opens their new Scott City location...
more information.

Habitat for Humanity

Two Habitat homes are underway; 1 in Cape and 1 in Jackson; volunteers are needed with light construction and painting...
more information.

Habitat ReStore

Volunteers are needed to help provide customer service and/or sort merchandise at the Cape retail store...
more information.

Salvation Army

Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to assist with the after school program. Individuals would mentor, tutor and build relationships with students in the 5th through 12th grade..
more information.

Fostering Futures

The Fostering Futures Program is a supplemental program to Voices for Children/CASA's advocacy program. Fostering Futures specifically serves youth ages 14-18 who will, most likely, age out of foster care without ever being adopted. The program is designed to assist youth in a successful transition from foster care to adulthood...
more information.

If you are a partner organization seeking volunteers and wish to share the information with UnitedWay of Southeast Missouri and our supporters, please fill out our Volunteer Opportunities Form.